Finding Me (Todoroki x Reader)

Heroes Rising - Chapter 8

Every bone and muscle in me screamed in agony as I scrambled my way over to Shoto like some sewer rat chasing after scraps. But that didn't matter - not when the boy I deeply cared about was frozen and on the brink of death. "Shoto!" I called again. I pulled him into my trembling arms, searching his face frantically to see if he could hear me at all. To see if he was still with me.

Shivers wracked his body uncontrollably despite the warm energy I pushed into him. His breaths were short and quick, little puffs of cold air pushing past his blue lips. He'd gone too far. His energy signature was weak, weaker than it had ever been before.

A cruel tear fell from my eye. "Shoto...?"

The fluttering of his eyelids sent my heart racing once more, waiting with bated breath as his grey and blue irises met with my E/C ones. "Y/...N...?" he murmured, his voice soft but there.

I instinctively tugged him closer, allowing a relieved smile to grace my lips as I stroked his cheeks - half to warm him up and half to reassure myself he was still alive. "Yes! Yes. It's me, Sho."

He breathed out his own relieved sigh, closing his eyes once more. "I'm glad." He opened his eyes again, but looked towards the frozen beast that towered over us. The afternoon sun made the statue shine like a thousand diamonds, and I decided then that Hybrid-man looked better this way. "That's right," Shoto said in between catching his breath. "Hibernate awhile."

I wanted to laugh, to feel reassured that we'd done our part. But what had it cost? My other classmates laid splayed across there icy terrain, battered, bruised and unconscious to boot. The horror of their injured forms made my stomach twist with distate. Kirishima's arms, although now reverted back to a normal state, were littered with multiple burn marks that would need serious medical treatment. Iida was sprawled over a pile of rocks, heavy smoke emitting from his engines. He must been swept aside by the villain's tail when he went apeshit, or something. And Tsu was still where I left her, a sliver of blood streaming from her head and down her dirty face.

We'd won, but at what cost?

"I need to get you guys some help," I said, but it was a useless thing to say. Where would I get help? Everyone who could help was either fighting, hiding, or nowhere near Nabu Island. I only had a few things in my utility pack, but I guess they would do.

Just as I reached for some bandages, though, Shoto's hand caught my wrist. I sent him a quizzical look, but I doubt he even saw it through his extremely slitted eyes. "Don't... Don't waste that on us," he said.

"What? Are you insane?" I asked. "If I don't treat you guys, you'll be in worse states than you are now. Now hold still. I'm going to-"

"You have to go help Bakugou and Midoriya."

My confusion only increased at his words. This guy. "What are you talking about, Sho?"

His grip on me tightened, using me as leverage to hoist himself to sit beside me. Even though we were sitting down, he was taller than me. Damn his long torso. Residual frost masked around his eyes, accentuating his cerulean and diamond irises even more as they locked with mine. "They're going to need all the help they can get with the villain with multiple quirks. We'll be fine here. I promise."

"But you guys are hurt. How can I just leave you guys-"

"Because heroes make sacrifices all the time for the greater good. Taking a hit or two is just part of the job."

I looked away from him, angry tears welling up in my eyes. He was right. Damnit, I knew he was right; but I just didn't want to admit it. If there was anyone left to fight, they should go help take down whoever was left - that was the logical thing to do. But my restless heart tugged and pulled in a way that had me wanting to scream. This was worse than the time I left Tamaki to help Midoriya and Togata. So much worse.